Optical wireless communication beam steering with assistance information

Abstract

Certain aspects of the present disclosure provide a method for wireless communications at a first node, generally including obtaining assistance information using at least one optical sensor and participating in optical wireless communication (OWC) with a second node with beam steering based on the assistance information.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus for wireless communication at a first node, comprising: at least one memory comprising computer-executable instructions; and one or more processors configured to execute the computer-executable instructions and cause the apparatus to:
 obtain assistance information using at least one optical sensor; and   participate in optical wireless communication (OWC) with a second node with beam steering based on the assistance information.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the assistance information is obtained by processing an image obtained using the at least one optical sensor. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the processing is based on error vector magnitude (EVM) measurements. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the processing involves calculation of a searching gradient based on a distance, within the image, from a current EVM measurement to a reference EVM measurement. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein: the at least one optical sensor comprises an array of photo multipliers; the array is partitioned into different parts; and the searching gradient is calculated based on output from the different parts of the array. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the assistance information is obtained on a first channel; and the OWC is performed on a second channel. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the one or more processors are further configured to execute the computer-executable instructions and cause the apparatus to:
 exchange, with the second node over the second channel, control information regarding the assistance information.   
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein exchanging the control information comprises receiving control information from the second node that indicates at least one of: information regarding assistance information the second node is transmitting or is to transmit; or information regarding assistance information at least a third node is transmitting or is to transmit. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein exchanging the control information comprises transmitting control information to the second node that indicates at least one of: information regarding capability of the first node to detect or process the assistance information; results of the first node processing the assistance information from the second node or assistance information from at least a third node; or a request for the second node to transmit assistance information. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the assistance information is obtained at an optical wavelength different from that of the main channel. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein a same photo multiplier is used to obtain the assistance information on the first channel and receive data on the second channel. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein participating in the OWC comprises: receiving information from the second node via an OWC channel; and transmitting information to the second node via an RF channel outside of the OFC channel. 
     
     
         13 . An apparatus for wireless communication at a second node, comprising: at least one memory comprising computer-executable instructions; and one or more processors configured to execute the computer-executable instructions and cause the apparatus to:
 transmit assistance information to a first node using at least one optical signal; and   participate in optical wireless communication (OWC) with the first node with beam steering based on the assistance information.   
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the assistance information is transmitted on a first channel; and the OWC is performed on a second channel. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the one or more processors are further configured to execute the computer-executable instructions and cause the apparatus to:
 exchange, with the first node over the second channel, control information regarding the assistance information.   
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein exchanging the control information comprises transmitting control information to the first node that indicates at least one of: information regarding assistance information the second node is transmitting or is to transmit; or information regarding assistance information at least a third node is transmitting or is to transmit. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein exchanging the control information comprises receiving control information from the first node that indicates at least one of: information regarding capability of the first node to detect or process the assistance information; results of the first node processing the assistance information from the second node or assistance information from at least a third node; or a request for the second node to transmit assistance information. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the assistance information is transmitted at an optical wavelength different from that of the main channel. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein participating in the OWC comprises: transmitting information to the first node via an OWC channel; and receiving information from the first node via an RF channel outside of the OFC channel. 
     
     
         20 . A method for wireless communications at a first node, comprising:
 obtaining assistance information using at least one optical sensor; and   participating in optical wireless communication (OWC) with a second node with beam steering based on the assistance information.   
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the assistance information is obtained by processing an image obtained using the at least one optical sensor. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the processing is based on error vector magnitude (EVM) measurements. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the processing involves calculation of a searching gradient based on a distance, within the image, from a current EVM measurement to a reference EVM measurement. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein: the at least one optical sensor comprises an array of photo multipliers; the array is partitioned into different parts; and the searching gradient is calculated based on output from the different parts of the array. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the assistance information is obtained on a first channel; and the OWC is performed on a second channel. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 25 , further comprising
 exchanging, with the second node over the second channel, control information regarding the assistance information.   
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein exchanging the control information comprises receiving control information from the second node that indicates at least one of: information regarding assistance information the second node is transmitting or is to transmit; or information regarding assistance information at least a third node is transmitting or is to transmit. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein exchanging the control information comprises transmitting control information to the second node that indicates at least one of: information regarding capability of the first node to detect or process the assistance information; results of the first node processing the assistance information from the second node or assistance information from at least a third node; or a request for the second node to transmit assistance information. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the assistance information is obtained at an optical wavelength different from that of the main channel. 
     
     
         30 . A method for wireless communications at a second node, comprising:
 transmitting assistance information to a first node using at least one optical signal; and   participating in optical wireless communication (OWC) with the first node with beam steering based on the assistance information.